Bijan teaches

Bijan delivers an exceptional lesson experience and ranks in the top
15% of our teachers nationwide.

Teaches students:

and Ages 5+

Teaching since:

February 2014

Hi!

I believe that music is rooted in all human beings and cultures in a reach and vast variety of forms. Music unifies and engages thinking and feeling in a direct and immediate way. Music influences individuals simultaneously on different levels of consciousness and form an important device for learning, recreation, arranging of conscious and unconscious impressions and at the same time for characterizing and conveying ideas and thoughts. This as a point of departure characterizes my teaching philosophy, which strives to create a climate in which my students can experience continuous musical, intellectual, and emotional growth.

As a music instructor and musicologist I demonstrate the characteristics of professional and passionate for everything related to my teaching. I am passionate; for I know the more I teach the more I learn.

I have three educations:
1) PhD in Musicology,
2) Master in Music Education and
3) Bachelor in Electrical Engineering.

I have about 20 years teaching experience and I am a California Certified Music Teacher

I speak english, german, swedish and farsi and love to work with people of all ages.

California Single Subject Credential in Music

Bijan is an excellent teacher. He is truly a professional; very knowledgeable and attentive. He is also patient with the young ones. I highly recommend him!

Farnaz
Sep 7, 2016

Cello·In studio

Mr. Bijan is the best instructor that someone can have. He's knowledgeable, passionate, and caring. I had him for cello lessons. He uses the time efficiently, and teaches you as much as possible in each lesson. I strongly recommend him.

Amanda R.
Dec 21, 2015

Singing·In studio

Bijan is a great teacher for my daughter. He really knows how to be patient with young kids and helps them focus on what they need to work on with very positive feedback. Can work with individual needs for each student and help them build proper techniques in areas where they need improvement and help them bring out their strengths. I would definitely recommend him to any student.

Both my son (over a year of piano lessons) and now my daughter (just started to learn to sing) take music lessons from Mr. Bijan and they both love it. He has a calm personality and a way with kids which I think brings out the best from his students. Extremely patient and changes the pace as per the students. My son has been learning piano for 3 years and had his moments of struggle but was good to see Mr. Bijan work with him and successfully motivated him to get back on track.

Bijan is a very good guitar instructor. My daughter and I both took guitar lessons and he was able to work with us as individuals since we both had different skill levels. Bijan is very patient with his students and helped us through various learning obstacles. I highly recommend anyone that needs or wants to learn any musical instrument to take lessons from Bijan.

Bijan is a great teacher. He is kind and knowledgeable at the same time. He is patient for all the questions you have.
He gives you good resources and goes with your pace.
I do recommend Bijan for the new and experienced piano learners.

Kenzi J.
Jul 14, 2014

Cello·In studio

Bijan is a great teacher. Learning to play the cello as an adult is tough, but he's very organized and encouraging. The recital was very anxiety-inducing, but we did really well and I felt a great sense of accomplishment afterward. I am only discontinuing due to distance and time constraints.

Bijan is an excellent instructor. With whatever you are going to learn, he knows what he is doing. Even though I only took cello lessons for a short time, he taught me so much with each lesson. He is worth the money and you will learn so much.

I am taking singing lessons with Bijan Zelli and Iâm pleased with his approach and what Iâm learning,
Bijan is very knowledgeable about music and is personable, patient and supportive, qualities I need and respect in a teacher.
When we started, Bijan took the time to ask me what I wanted and did a diagnosis to find the range, upper and lower, that I was capable of singing, to determine my basic knowledge of music and hear how I put over a song. From that he developed his approach with me.
Even in the short (2+ months) time weâve been working together, I can see improvement in several areas. First, Bijan showed me that to really sing a song and best use my voice, I needed to learn some music basics. Second, he is teaching me how to listen to a song versus hearing it. The result is not just to sing a song, but sing it with the expression and emotion that draws an audience in.
Bottom line: I recommend Bijan Zelli if you want to improve the quality of your singing.

i was always told i could not sing and was hopeless. Bjian was patient and put up with me being out of tune and out of rhythm most of the time. started with easy stuff, and gradually led me to more complex pieces. he was also receptive in terms of working on specific pieces that i was interested in, off the beaten track. he made recordings of my pieces, and encouraged me to perform in recitals. overall, an awesome experience.

I have played guitar in a classic rock band for many years. I always wanted to learn how to play the piano, but never allocated the time to do so. When I finally decided to take piano lessons, I wanted to find a teacher who could start me off as a beginning student; someone who could teach me to sight read piano music and to help me develop my left & right hand piano skills and teach me proper technique from the get-go. Bijan Z. has done an excellent job of teaching me, and getting me sight reading & playing with both hands, right away. He is very knowledgeable and patient, and his positive attitude has encouraged me to practice regularly which has helped to keep me focused on my piano goals.

I can explain my experience with Bijan in one simple word: AMAZING! I am beyond pleased with my decision to work with Bijan as he is enthusiastic about what he does, he is extremely patient, he pin points your flaws and he knows EXACTLY how to communicate that to you in a way that you fully understand and ultimately improve. I highly recommend him to students interested in taking singing lessons. Thanks Bijan! :)

I've been taking cello lessons from Bijan for about 2 years now, and his instruction has caused me take a greater appreciation for music on the whole. Cello is my first instrument and I was worried that, as an adult player just starting out, I'd have to hunt around for an effective teacher. I was very, very lucky in getting Bijan as my teacher. His credentials are unmatched and his talent across multiple musical styles is amazing. Any question you have, from instrument choice to deep music theory, he has an answer for. He has also been incredibly patient with me, even when I seemed frustrated and ready to give up. I probably would have if it had not been for his encouragement and help. Bijan would absolutely be my first choice for anyone in the San Diego area wanting to learn music.

Bijan,Was great. He is patient, thoughtful and knows exactly how to find the keys to explain what you need to know for the next lesson.

MamieD
Mar 20, 2012

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Great for adults

I've been playing piano on and off for years, but am mostly self-taught. Finally, I decided to get some formal lessons. Bijan is a great teacher for adult learners. He's good at picking up your strengths and weaknesses, and lets you go at your own pace. Not only does he teach traditional music technique and theory (mostly from work books he recommends that you do on your own), but he also teaches you practical things (for example, how to use the piano to accompany singers or other musical instruments), which is great for most adults who want to play the piano just for pleasure. My only wish is that he had an acoustic piano instead of a keyboard.

I started my guitar classes 2 months back with no experience at all in music. He is a great teacher, very patient and provides good feedback.

SudharsanK
Nov 18, 2011

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I began my piano classes with Bijan Z 2-3 months back. From my experience, he is a very patient and organized teacher. He teaches music step by step patiently and gives me sufficient time to learn, practise and play. He points my mistakes and gives efective istruction to correct them.His classes are very organized and helped me to build fundamental skills in playing the piano and sight reading.I enjoy the whole process of the learning piano, since I wasn't able to do what I am doing now a month back.

Very understanding and flexible with scheduling. I started after ~2 years experience and am making excellent progress on Bass guitar.

EsperanzaR
Aug 22, 2011

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Bijan is an excellent instructor and is well learned and very professional. I would highly recommend him to others.

KarenD
Jul 3, 2011

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bass guitar

Patient as an teacher, clear in instruction and does give positive feed back

SairamS
May 28, 2011

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great teacher

Bijan is very patient , and takes his time to explain things if they are not clear at first glance. He is very friendly and puts in a lot of effort to teach you based on your ability. I would highly recommend him as an instructor.

SydneyC
May 26, 2011

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Cello with Bijan Z

I was a beginner student wanting to learn Cello and Mr Bijan was very patient with me. He went over what was required to play cello and gave me the overview. He made sure that i was comfortable with the instrument before I start taking up cello seriously. So I was able to decide on my own if this was something I wanted to pursue in the long run. I was glad that i had the opportunity to try something new with his guidance or i would have been lost. He has much passion for music and teaching, so each lesson is well structured and fun.

Bijan was very easy to work with and was very helpful. the one hour lesson would fly by very quickly as it was always fun to work with him

KennethD
May 5, 2011

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Beginner Guitar Student

Bijan was a great instructor taking me from absolute zero as a music student to reading basic music, playing chords, and helping to understand rhythm and beat. The parking situation on weeknights was the only issue. A 5-minute grace period for extending the lesson time when I got there a few minutes late (because of parking would have been nice).

I have been taking voice lessons with Bijan for the last 6 months and its been an amazing experience all along. In the beginning when you join he has a good understanding of where you stand regarding your music level and then works towards enhancing those skills and introducing newer areas to go beyond your comfort zone which gives a student more confidence. He would give me songs to practice with the levels increasing from easy to challenging(even different languages) and then would help me with different singing techniques including dynamics, range etc for each of them. Along with the songs he also teaches the singer to be more confident and independent by teaching to recognize and understand your range and music notes .His passion for music shows easily in his teaching. He is very patient, flexible and an extremely professional and knowledgeable instructor. It has been a great experience for me so far and I would highly recommend him!!

I started taking music lessons with Bijan as a beginner. Bijan is an expert in his field and a great instructor, he is patient and very precise. I am looking forward to continue my lessons with him and I would highly recommend him to anyone who is looking for a great music instructor.

I came to Bijan with a serious problem that was inhibiting my ability to practice, let alone just play, without excruciating pain. Even though we only had a limited time to work on it, he was able to help me and now I can practice for over an hour or more. He also helped me to improve my sound dramatically. He is patient, kind and has a real passion for music. I highly recommend him.

Bijan worked extremely well with Nicholas, who is first time learner. He is very patient, keeps Nicholas very much engaged during each lesson.

danieller
Mar 12, 2011

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Bijan has been wonderful with my son. After only a few cello lessons he was able to keep up with the school orchestra! Bijan is patient and flexible and a great teacher. Thank you!!

DanaA
Mar 4, 2011

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Bijan sets the standard for professionalism and excellence. He has taken me to a whole new level and really challenges me to go beyond what I think I can even do. I am looking forward to investing more time with him and seeing what the future brings. He has been very flexible and he teaches me in a way that I learn best while offering constructive criticism in a professional manner.

students are very comfortable with him.He encourage them for better work.

DavidD
Feb 11, 2011

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Fantastic Instructor

My daughter, Monzelle, has progress phenomenally on the Cello. Bijan has taught my daughter how to shift posittions, which inturn allowed her to play more difficult and advance pieces such as Bach Solo Cello Suites. Highly Recommended!

Bijan has really helped our daughter with her cello. She sound 100 times better after only a few months, and really enjoys the cello now. Bijan is wonderful at identifying problems and fixing them while still keeping the lesson positive. If you're in need of a cello instructor, try Bijan. You won't be disappointed.

Bijan did an excellent job with getting my son to read music.Excellent teacher!

FrancescoP
Dec 3, 2010

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Play piano and guitar

Always kind and professional. He helped me understanding my problems with my voice and gave me very interesting tips.

JillS
Nov 23, 2010

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Thank you

Hi there... Thanks so much for going out of your way for the concert.. It was a great experience.. My girls turned quiet when they were on stage.. imagine that! We will work on that.. I have a present for you next time I see you. thanks again for everything! :)

Thank you Bijan for being so patiently professional with Lucca. He is enjoying his lessons very much.

JeffW
Jun 13, 2010

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Talented and thoughtful teacher

Bijan made me feel so comfortable from the minute we met, it's immediately all about understanding the music. He teaches more than the music notes, but interpretation and feeling of the song, which is so important to recreating music. Professional but most important is how personable he is. Being comfortable to just play and sing right away, I was able to just quickly get down to learning...and fast too. Great experience with Bijan, my fiance is now going to him for guitar lessons.

Bijan is great with my sons. Very motivating - they have fun and laugh and enjoy being with him and learning!

Andrean
Mar 1, 2010

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Piano student

I have enjoyed my lessons with Mr. Bijan. He is very nice, friendly and understanding what student wants to learn. He is very knowledgeable about instruments and technique that he uses to teach. He makes each lesson fun and worthwhile.

ReneeP
Feb 2, 2010

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I am absolutely loving my piano lessons. Bijan is extremely knowledgeable. His teaching style is so effortless and natural; this allows the student to relax and absorb all the information in a really relaxed, nurturing setting. I can't wait to to keep learning. He is an excellent, excellent teacher. I would highly recommend him!

Bijan works very well with my daughter Amanda. He is very patient and gives strong positive feedback. She enjoys her lessons and is learning very quickly

SabineR
Nov 30, 2009

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excellent musician

Bijan is a wonderful and patient teacher. He's very helpful in understanding how music is built up and he can explain very clearly on what you have to focuss, when you want to get better for example in expression or timing ...Although I am an experienced singer, I profit a lot.

I'd never taken a singing lesson before so I wasn't sure what to expect when I started working with Bijan. He was great at working on the basics and then moving up a level to challenge you more. He was also very patient with mistakes here and there. Great teacher over all!!!

Bijan is a really good teacher. He focuses on technique through singing which is great for me.

ShanaC
May 4, 2009

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Singing Lessons

I started going to Bijan for singing lessons in mid February. As someone who has already had a few singing teachers in the past, I had an idea of what to expect upon starting my lessons. At first, Bijan would give me a song and I would go home and practice it until I had the melody down and then I would sing it for him in class. We would then decide whether to continue working on the song or go to a new one. I learned about 2-3 songs per lesson. As a student, there were certain goals that I had wanted to reach in my lessons and after about a month we decided to go over what it was that i was hoping to achieve through my lessons. After this, i felt like the lessons became more tailored to me, which is when I think we started to make some progress. It is now the beginning of May and we are doing more difficult songs and practicing scales.

Bijan is a great teacher to our 7 year old, Lucas. He keeps the lessons interesting, progresses at a rate that Lucas is not only comfortable with but keeps him looking ahead to what he will learn next week.

GiseleC
Feb 20, 2009

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Thank You

Bijan is talented and good with kids.

MargieM
Feb 12, 2009

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Bijan is a very talented musician and fun to work with. He helped me (Pete) develop better voice quality, rhythm, and listening to the music and beat. I especially enjoyed the variety of music that he chose for me, each with a different lesson to learn relating to various aspects of singing.

I think Bijan is a very good teacher, he takes the time to improve every little thing to make you a better singer, he is very dedicate to his students, and he knows a lot.

RonC
Dec 23, 2008

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Feedback for Bijan Z.

In my opinion, Bijan is a personable, dedicated music teacher. His knowledge of music, and his ability to accurately explain the beginnings of note reading have successfully helped me tackle my challenge of not only learning how to play the cello (as an adult), but he has helped me conquer my fear of not being able to read music.... all in a relatively short time! Excellent teacher and highly recommended for anyone (definitely a beginning adult, such as myself)

Bijan took the time to help me improve on my singing, from starting with the basics on Day 1, to studying my song recordings to identify my "problem" areas and work on them. Bijan is also friendly, and easy to work with. I have seen an improvement in my singing, and I feel more confident now singing solo verses or songs with my choir.